The Supreme Court today allowed Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon Brenda Ibanez and Gabriel Garcia for unspecified felonies. Court approval is a state constitutional prerequisite to Newsom’s granting clemency to anyone convicted of multiple felonies.
During Newsom’s term, the court has now approved seven of his clemency recommendation requests (five pardons and two sentence commutations) and, unlike with Governor Jerry Brown, has rejected none. Six more requests remain pending.
[March 29 update: Governor Newsom pardoned Ibanez and Garcia on March 27, along with 24 other clemency grants.]